Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of Nov 22nd to 30th Nov 2024. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2024 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• World Fisheries Day, observed annually on November 21st, emphasizes the importance of sustainable fisheries, the protection of aquatic ecosystems, and the livelihoods of fishing communities globally.
• International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2024 is observed on the 25th of November 2024.
• World Heritage Week, observed globally from November 19 to November 25, celebrates the preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage.
• Constitution Day 2024 is observed on the 26th of November 2024.
• The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 26 as World Sustainable Transport Day (WSTD) to promote the shift towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation systems.
• Red Planet Day is observed annually on November 28, Red Planet Day commemorates humanity’s deep-rooted fascination with Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, often called the Red Planet due to its iron oxide-rich surface.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

• As per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) article ,the slowdown in the second quarter of FY 2024-25 has been overcome, with private consumption once again driving domestic demand.
• India’s top lenders are vying to finance a ₹39,000 crore refinery project being developed by Chennai Petroleum Corporation (CPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in Tamil Nadu.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has proposed the introduction of monitoring committees for implementing resolution plans under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
• Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) released a set of six measures to strengthen the equity index derivatives, also known as equity futures & options (F&O), framework.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), abolished the mandatory requirement for companies to deposit 1% of the issue size with stock exchanges before launching a public issue.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the use of local currencies (Indian Rupee - INR and Maldivian Rufiyaa - MVR) in cross-border transactions.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injected ₹25,000 crore into the banking system via a variable rate repo auction (VRR) to manage liquidity and prevent increased borrowing costs for banks.
• Axis Mutual Fund has launched the Axis Momentum Fund, an open-ended equity scheme based on the momentum investment strategy.
• India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) is in talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Korean Exim Bank to raise USD 600 million in blended finance.
• Jammu and Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank) has launched the Virtual ATM (vATM) facility, aimed at leveraging technology for financial empowerment, especially in rural areas lacking ATMs and other banking channels.
• The central government has revised the PLI scheme for whole-time directors (WTDs) and senior executives of public sector banks (PSBs) to incentivize employees for significant value creation.
• A high-level policy conference for central banks of the Global South was organized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the Central Bank of India’s (CBI) entry into life and non-life insurance businesses through a joint venture with Generali Group, subject to compliance with conditions and sectoral regulator IRDAI’s approval.
• Punjab National Bank (PNB) has joined the globally recognized Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), signalling its commitment to sustainability and climate action.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the transaction limit for UPI 123Pay from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, allowing users to make higher-value digital payments via feature phones.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a scheme for awarding professors who write original books in Hindi on Economics, Banking, and Financial subjects.
• Yes Bank has partnered with Vegapay, a banking software technology innovator, to launch a hyper-configurable platform called ‘Credit Line on UPI’.
• Warehousing and collateral management firm Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) has entered into a partnership with the Bank of Baroda (BoB) to provide collateral management services for agricultural financing.
• Sri Lanka secured approval for the fourth tranche of the $2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launched the industry’s first "Increasing Income" feature in its regular pay annuity product, ICICI Pru Guaranteed Pension Plan Flexi.
• Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have proposed raising ₹54,800 crore in FY25 through Additional Tier-1 (AT-1) and Tier-2 bonds.
• Canara HSBC Life Insurance introduced OmniGen AI, a first-of-its-kind Generative AI-driven solution, leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock platform.
• The Union Cabinet has agreed in principle to waive the bank guarantee requirement for deferred spectrum payments by telecom operators.
• Commercial banks are expected to raise over ₹1 trillion through infrastructure bond issuances in FY25, nearly doubling the ₹51,081 crore raised in FY24.
• After a prolonged period of surplus liquidity (₹1.4 lakh crore for over two months), the banking system experienced a decline in cash.
• According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India, the share of high-cost deposits (over 7% interest rate) increased to 68.8% in the September 2024 quarter, up from 54.7% a year ago.
• Angel One Asset Management Company has received the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) approval to act as the asset management company for Angel One Mutual Fund.
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is in discussions with 10 countries to expand the reach of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay.
• Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have received approval from the finance ministry to raise ₹25,200 crore in FY25 from the equity markets.
• Bank of India (BoI) raised Rs 5,000 crore through a 10-year infrastructure bond issuance at a 7.41% coupon rate.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) raised Rs 3,500 crore through the issuance of Basel III-compliant Tier-2 bonds, also at a 7.41% coupon rate.
• The government's fiscal deficit in FY25 is expected to be 4.75% of GDP, which is 0.19% lower than the budget estimate.
• State Bank of India (SBI) has raised a total of Rs 50,000 crore in the current financial year through various bond issuances.
• Axis Bank announced that the asset book of its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) has doubled from $2 billion in 2019 to $4 billion.
• HDFC Bank introduced the Pragati Savings Account to cater to the banking needs of rural and semi-urban populations across India.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) praised India for adopting policies that reduce fossil fuel subsidies and create fiscal space for renewable energy initiatives and electric vehicles.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working on creating a robust data analytics ecosystem to support its supervisory functions, aimed at improving agility and ensuring forward-looking supervision.
• Groww Mutual Fund has introduced Groww Multicap Fund, an open-ended equity scheme aiming to capture growth across large, mid, and smallcap stocks.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• India and the United Kingdom (UK) have renewed their focus on establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with India designating the UK as a "priority country" for trade negotiations.
• Union Steel Minister D. Kumaraswamy, while speaking at the National Metallurgists Awards ceremony, emphasised the pivotal role of the steel sector in India's industrial progress and nation-building.
• According to the latest analysis by OAG, a global aviation data provider, India has witnessed the second-fastest recovery in domestic seat capacity among the world’s top 20 aviation markets.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025 during the ICA (International Cooperative Alliance) Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly, being hosted for the first time in India from November 25–30, 2024.
• Researchers from the University of Southampton have developed a mobile app aimed at assisting small-scale fishing communities in Kerala to address the challenges posed by climate change, diminishing fish stocks, and other environmental pressures.
• In a bid to improve groundwater management, the government launched the "Bhu-Neer" portal, a centralized platform for managing groundwater withdrawal permits.
• India is preparing to launch a $5 billion incentive scheme to promote the domestic production of essential electronics components, including printed circuit boards (PCBs), to enhance self-reliance and reduce dependence on imports, particularly from China.
• The 6th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee meeting, along with related discussions, took place from 15-22 November 2024 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, focusing on reviewing the agreement to enhance trade and economic collaboration between India and the 10 ASEAN countries.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the News 9 Global Summit in Stuttgart, Germany, via video conference.
• Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will inaugurate the third edition of Nayi Chetna – Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence.
• The Ministry of Agriculture has approved the integration of 21 additional mandis in Rajasthan into the e-NAM (electronic National Agriculture Market)
• India's education loan sector is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi Scheme and increased participation from NBFCs.
• India is set to modernize its aviation regulations by replacing the outdated Aircraft Act of 1934 with the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, a new law aimed at improving aviation safety, boosting investment, and enhancing consumer rights.
• India is working on the draft for the “UDAN 2.0” scheme, an upgraded version of the original UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik)
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the ban on the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for five years for continuing to work to secede Assam from India and maintain links with other insurgent groups for extortion and violence, according to a notification issued by the ministry.
• A new study in The Lancet HIV journal reveals significant progress in reducing the global burden of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the adoption of India's Constitution, observed as Samvidhan Diwas, at the old Parliament building (Samvidhan Sadan).
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the PAN 2.0 Project of the Income Tax Department, with a financial outlay of ₹1,435 crore.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three critical railway projects.
• The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare.
• The Government of India has initiated the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign to eradicate child marriage, one of the most pressing social evils in the country.
• The Dwarka region of Delhi is set to host India's longest golf course, a 7,377-yard, 18-hole facility sprawling across 159 acres.
• The e-Daakhil portal, an innovative platform designed to provide a speedy, inexpensive, and hassle-free mechanism for filing consumer complaints, is now operational across all states and union territories, including Ladakh.
• The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), in collaboration with Thales, revealed the top six teams in the Carbon Zero Challenge (CZC) 4.0, a nationwide contest promoting eco-innovation.
• Amara Raja Infra, a key part of the $2 billion Amara Raja Group, has achieved a significant milestone by setting up India’s first green hydrogen fuelling station in Leh, Ladakh, for NTPC Ltd.
• At the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024, the Ministry of Mines Pavilion secured the First Position (Gold) award for its outstanding display, competing against 49 ministries and attracting over 80,000 visitors.
• Indian Railways has introduced the ‘Sanraksha’ mobile application, an innovative step towards improving passenger safety and security.
• The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has received 28 proposals from 23 states as part of the central government’s initiative to develop new cities, addressing the growing demand for urban expansion.
• The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2024, India’s largest science celebration, is set to take place at IIT Guwahati, Assam, from November 30 to December 3, 2024.
• The Ministry of Tourism has approved 40 projects worth over Rs 3,295 crore to promote sustainable tourism and balance tourist traffic across India.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)has highlighted that Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have registered the highest number of cybercrime cases over the last three years, with Telangana leading the charge.
• The 12th International Tourism Mart (ITM)was inaugurated in Kaziranga, Assam, to highlight the vast tourism potential of Northeast India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• US billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), criticized Australia's proposed law aimed at banning social media for children under the age of 16.
• A volcano near Iceland's capital Reykjavik erupted, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest of Iceland.
• Kenya’s president has cancelled multimillion-dollar deals with the Adani Group following US bribery and fraud indictments against Gautam Adani, one of Asia's richest individuals.
• Iraq launched its first nationwide population census in 37 years, marking the first general census since 1997.
• Ukraine claims that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Dnipro city in central-east Ukraine, marking the first use of such a missile in the ongoing war.
• External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar presided over the inauguration of Symbiosis International University’s first overseas campus at Dubai Knowledge Park
• COP29 climate talks concluded in Azerbaijan with a deal offering $300 billion for climate finance by 2035.
• Sri Lanka is launching a debt exchange to swap $12.6 billion of its bonds for longer-dated notes as part of its dollar-denominated debt restructuring.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• Finnish telecom giant Nokia has announced a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar agreement with India’s Bharti Airtel to supply 4G and 5G equipment, marking a significant expansion of its presence in one of the world’s largest telecom markets.
• Tata Cliq, the e-commerce platform under the Tata Group, has rebranded itself as Tata Cliq Fashion to position itself as a dedicated fashion and lifestyle e-commerce destination.
• The University of Wollongong (UOW) has officially launched its international campus in GIFT City, becoming the second Australian university to do so.
• In a significant move to address tax evasion by offshore online gaming companies, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) is collaborating with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and commercial banks to create a mechanism for real-time transaction tracking.
• Chhattisgarh topped the list of Indian states and Union Territories (UTs) with the highest inflation rate of 8.8% in October 2024, according to data from the National Statistical Office (NSO).
• India’s electronics sector showed remarkable growth in FY24, with exports reaching $29.12 billion, a 23.6% increase compared to the previous fiscal year.
• On National Milk Day (November 26, 2024), Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, along with Ministers of State S.P. Singh Baghel and Shri George Kurian, released the annual publication 'Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2024' in New Delhi.
• The Ministry of Labour and Employment has directed the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) to bolster its IT infrastructure and capacity for implementing the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced as part of the Union Budget 2024–25.
• India is intensifying efforts to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by 2030, with an intermediary goal of controlling it by 2025.
• A high-level committee chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has approved ₹1,115.67 crore for disaster mitigation and capacity-building initiatives across various Indian states.
• The Indian government has launched a fresh investigation into the financial and accounting practices of Byju's, once a beacon of India's edtech success.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

• Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Atishi Marlena Singh launched the “Delhi Solar Portal” to facilitate rooftop solar power panel installations, allowing consumers to become “prosumers” (electricity producers and consumers).
• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted the state's focus on economic growth through the signing of 21 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
• Assam will host a two-day business summit, Advantage Assam 2.0 – the Global Infrastructure and Investors’ Summit, in February 2025, aimed at attracting investment and developing the state's infrastructure.
• Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena approved amendments to align the Delhi Legal Metrology Rules, 2011, with central government regulations under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023.
• The Delhi government has introduced a pension scheme for senior citizens, offering monthly financial assistance to residents aged 60 and above.
• Kerala is set to launch an insurance scheme covering the entire cattle population in the state.
• The Odisha government has approved 20 investment projects worth ₹1.36 lakh crore through the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), which is headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
• The Narasapur crochet lace craft has been awarded the Geographical Indications (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to receive the highest national honors from Guyana and Barbados during his historic visit to these countries, following the G20 Summit in Brazil.
• General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, is on a five-day official visit to Kathmandu, Nepal, at the invitation of General Ashok Raj Sigdel, the Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was awarded a Special Appreciation Medal at the 43rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi for the innovative design and impactful presentation of its healthcare initiatives.
• In a historic achievement, the Indian Chemical Council (ICC)was awarded the 2024 OPCW-The Hague Award at the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), held in The Hague.
• The 55th IFFIconcluded on 28th November 2024 at the  Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa, celebrating a vibrant nine-day journey of global and Indian cinema.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• The President appointed Justice D. Krishnakumar, a Madras High Court judge, as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, following the retirement of Justice Siddharth Mridul.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) approved the appointment of senior IAS officer R Alice Vaz as the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Delhi, ahead of the assembly elections in the city due next February.
• Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Emami Limited, has taken over as the President of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) for the term 2024-2025.
• Ramraj Cotton, a prominent traditional and ethnic wear brand, has appointed Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan as its brand ambassador.
• RBL Bank, India’s private sector bank, has appointed Indian Chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju as its brand ambassador.
• Hemant Soren, leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), submitted his resignation to Governor Santosh Gangwar on November 26, a day after securing a major electoral victory.
• Dan Bartlett, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Walmart Inc., was appointed as a board member of the Flipkart Group.
• Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart, stepped down from the PhonePe board about 10 months after leaving Flipkart.
• Binod Kumar has been recommended by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) for the position of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Bank.
• Dinesh Bhatia, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1992 batch, has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Brazil.
• G Balasubramanian, a 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives.
• Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took oath as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) on November 28, 2024, following her victory in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll.
• Google has appointed Mitul Shah, a former Apple India executive, as the Managing Director for its Devices and Services business in India.
• Kim Kyung-Ah has been appointed as the first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO) outside the founding family of Samsung Group in its 86-year history.
• Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister of Maharashtra and was appointed as the caretaker Chief Minister by Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the Maharashtra assembly’s term ended.
• Yamandú Orsi, a left-wing politician from the Broad Front alliance, won the run-off election to become Uruguay's next president.
• Actor Rashmika Mandanna has been appointed as the national brand ambassador for the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
• Nand Kishore has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Funds Management.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has approved the acquisition of debt-ridden Reliance Capital Limited (RCAP) by Hinduja Group's firm, IndusInd International Holdings Limited (IIHL).
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved Roshni Nadar's acquisition of a majority shareholding in two promoter group companies of HCL, namely Vama Sundari Investments (VSIPL) and HCL Corporation, from her father, Shiv Nadar.
• NBCC India Limited aims to acquire defunct public sector undertakings (PSUs) to redevelop and monetize their land.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) to acquire the standard unsecured personal loans portfolio of Standard Chartered Bank, India Branch.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of a stake in Flipkart by Shoreline International Holdings LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (Google's parent company).
• The government raised ₹3,449 crore by selling 1.6% stake in Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) through an Offer-for-Sale (OFS).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• Google launched Air View+, an ecosystem-based solution aimed at providing hyperlocal air quality information to users and government authorities in collaboration with local climate tech firms.
• ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode,Kerala has been accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for its spices quality and organic manure testing laboratories.
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have introduced AroTrack, an economical and portable device to accurately detect harmful pollutants such as phenol or benzene in water.
• PSLV will launch the Proba-3 mission on December 4, 2024 to deploy two satellites developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
• IIFCL (India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited) has requested the government to include the space sector in the harmonized list of infrastructure to facilitate easier financing for satellite vehicle manufacturing.
• India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Bank was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology, aimed at fostering innovation and enhancing national security.
• TheS. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a landmark case against Alphabet's Google, arguing that the company holds an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising.
• Meesho has launched India’s first multilingual Gen AI-powered voice bot at scale for customer support.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), DK Sunil, is leading a delegation to Russia to sign a deal for the licensed manufacturing of 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines for the Su-30MKI fighter jets.
• India successfully tested the K-4 nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat, marking a significant enhancement in India’s nuclear deterrence.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

• India and Australia have been strengthening their defense cooperation, particularly through joint training exercises like Exercise Malabar and counter-submarine patrols, aimed at deterring Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
• The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024), a landmark initiative to fortify India’s cybersecurity resilience, was inaugurated at a high-profile ceremony organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in New Delhi.
• The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini sailed out from Fremantle, Australia on 24 November 2024 for the second leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II expedition, heading to Lyttelton, New Zealand.
• The Annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2024 was held from 20 to 22 November 2024 at Headquarters Goa Naval Area, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa.
• The Indian Army has received Sabal 20 logistics drones from EndureAir Systems, procured for deployment in the Eastern sector.
• General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), launched the "Eklavya" online learning platform for the Indian Army.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU’S AND AGREEMENT

• India and Australia have taken significant steps to enhance their bilateral relationship, including establishing the Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) and committing to a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
• IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, in collaboration with Codenatives, a U.S.-based IT company, is introducing an online Salesforce B2C Commerce Developer training program designed for professionals aspiring to excel in the e-commerce domain.
• Tata Power has entered into a $4.25 billion financing agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund several clean energy power projects.
• Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan (Education) and P. Nadda (Health and Family Welfare) witnessed the signing of a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Education.
• Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power, Housing & Urban Affairs, visited the Ministry of Power and NTPC pavilions at the India International Trade Fair (IITF)
• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is hosting the largest-ever National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-24), which will take place in Kochi on November 28-29, 2024.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has extended its partnership with the Indian government’s System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH) for another three years.
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has entered a two-year collaboration with WinZO, a social gaming platform, to bolster India’s role in the $300 billion global gaming industry.
• Tech Mahindra has entered a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop the Autonomous Networks Operations Platform (ANOP).
• India has signed the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), marking a significant commitment to enhancing its intellectual property (IP) ecosystem and promoting inclusive growth, especially for startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and independent designers.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

• India has retained its position in the top 10 in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2025), a global assessment of countries’ efforts to combat climate change.
• The Sustainable Trade Index 2024 highlights the growing focus on resilience in global economies, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic and in response to health crises, climate change, and geopolitical tensions.
• The Hinrich Foundation and IMD’s Sustainable Trade Index 2024 ranks global economies based on economic growth, societal advancement, and environmental resilience.
• A recent study by Bengaluru-based staffing company Xpheno highlights Karnataka as the leading state in India for Positive Talent Balance (PTB), as revealed by Karnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M B Patil.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• The Indian women’s hockey team showcased resilience and brilliance to claim the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, defeating China 1-0 in a thrilling final at the Rajgir Sports Complex, Bihar.
• MRF Tyres celebrated its fourth straight Italian Gravel Championship title at the 17th Rally delle Marche in Cingoli.
• Buoyed by the success of hosting the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, Bihar is gearing up for its next major sporting milestone: the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025.
• Rafael Nadal’s illustrious tennis career came to an emotional close as Spain fell to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
• Alistair Brownlee, the double Olympic champion who played a pivotal role in the rise of British triathlon, has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 36.
• Italy emerged victorious in the Billie Jean King Cup for the fifth time, as Jasmine Paolini delivered a stellar performance to seal a 2-0 win over Slovakia in the final.
• Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has secured the media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments from 2024 to 2031 at a base price of $170 million, representing a 70% increase over the previous cycle.
• Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix .
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old cricketer from Bihar, has become the youngest player ever to be signed in an IPL auction.
• Delhi Chief Minister Atishi inaugurated India’s first underground shooting range for National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets at Rohini’s NCC Bhavan.
• Indian wrestler and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia has been handed a four-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for refusing to provide a doping sample during the national team selection trials on March 10, 2024.
• Dutch Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen has clinched his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship title, despite finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
• In a remarkable achievement for Indian chess, Divith Reddy, an eight-year-old prodigy from Hyderabad, clinched the gold medalat the Under-8 World Cadets Chess Championship.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

• Aashish Khan, the legendary sarod maestro who popularised the instrument world over and collaborated with international musicians like George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Ringo Starr, has passed away at the age of 84.
• Shashikant Ruia, patriarch of the billionaire Ruia family and co-founder of the Essar Group of companies, passed away at the age of 81.